Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c4.2483

c4.2483

8) Brahmā became river. Long ago in the period of Cākṣuṣa manvantara (the age of a Manu), Brahmā decided to perform a sacrifice on the Sahya Mountain and preparations were made for it. Brahmā came with Viṣṇu and Śiva. Bhṛgu and the other hermits took their seats. Mahāviṣṇu called Svarādevī, the wife of Brahmā. But she was very slow in coming. The hermit Bhṛgu said to Viṣṇu : "You yourself have gone to call Devī. But she is very slow. The auspicious moment is coming to an end. So how are we to commence the rituals?" "If Svarā does not appear before the end of the stipulated time we shall seat Gāyatrī in her place," said Viṣṇu. Śiva also agreed to it. So Bhṛgu seated Gāyatrī on the right side of Brahmā and the rituals were performed. By then Svarā reached the sacrificial hall. When she saw that Gāyatrī was placed in her place and the rituals were performed she became angry, because of her quarrel with her co-wife. She called out: "Where the person to whom respect is due, is not given respect and where the person who ought not to be respected is given undue respect, there, scarcity, death and fear will be rampant. She dared to sit on the right in my place. So she will grow lean and become a river which will not be seen in the world. All of you will become rivers because you have placed a person lower than me in my position." Hearing the curse of Svarā, Gāyatrī rose up trembling, and cursed Svarā also to become a river. Before Svarā was changed to a river, Brahmā and the other gods rose up and requested for absolution from the curse. Svarā said, "Gods, it is because you have not given oblations to Gaṇapati in the beginning of the sacrifice, that this break, due to my anger, has been caused. My curse cannot be futile. So each of you change to a river by your portions, and we, your wives, will also become rivers by our portions, and flow to the west."